Newsom calls on 10,000 men to step up for the next generation

CALIFORNIA — Governor Gavin Newsom on September 16 unveiled the California Men’s Service Challenge, a statewide initiative aimed at helping young men and boys build connections, purpose, and leadership.

The program calls for 10,000 men to serve as mentors, coaches, and tutors through opportunities organized by the California Service Corps and partner groups.

According to the state, nearly one in four men under 30 report having no close friends, with disconnection rates highest among young Black men. Such isolation is linked to poor health outcomes, including mental illness, poverty, and even premature death.

Men also account for nearly 80% of suicides in California, with the highest rates among white men. These trends prompted Newsom’s executive order and the launch of this initiative.

“Too many young men and boys are suffering in silence — disconnected from community, opportunity and even their own families. This action is about turning that around,” Newsom said.

The state says this disconnection has driven many men out of the workforce.

Labor force participation among men without a college degree is at historic lows, with about one in nine men aged 25 to 54 neither working nor seeking work.

How It Will Work

The state is partnering with organizations already engaged in mentorship and outreach, including Improve Your Tomorrow, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Mentor California, the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, the Giants Community Fund, and the American Institute for Boys and Men.

Participants will work directly with young men to connect them to education, career pathways, mentorship, and community service. The initiative builds on the California Service Corps, which already coordinates volunteer and service programs across the state.

Reparations Efforts Still Pending

The rollout also comes as California’s reparations debate has stalled.

While Newsom convened the state’s Reparations Task Force, he has not approved legislation to enact direct reparations, leaving many proposals — particularly those focused on young Black men, unresolved.